Is it safe to plant in my garden?

No, it is highly invasive and is discouraged or banned in many areas.

How do I get rid of it?

Small plants can be pulled by hand, while larger ones require cutting and herbicide treatment on the stumps.

Plant guide

Amur honeysuckle.

Lonicera maackii

Pronounced loh-NISS-er-uh MAK-ee-eye

Also known as Amur Honeysuckle, Bush Honeysuckle, Maack's honeysuckle

Amur honeysuckle is a vigorous shrub known for its fragrant white flowers and bright red berries. It is highly adaptable but often considered invasive in many parts of North America. You will find it thrives in a variety of soil conditions and light levels.

Another photo of Amur honeysuckle — Photo by Andrew Conboy (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 15 to 20 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 8
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

This shrub is quite resilient and requires minimal intervention once established. Keep an eye out for rapid spread, as it can easily outcompete native plants in your garden. Pruning helps maintain its shape and encourages denser growth.

Watering: Water deeply during dry spells to keep the plant healthy.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer once in early spring.
Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to manage size.
Repotting: Repot only if the shrub is container grown and becomes root bound.
Soil: Well draining, adaptable to various types
Soil pH: 6.0 to 8.0
Temperature: -35 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 20 to 50 years
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Stunted growth
Soil drying out too quickly

Safety

People: All parts of the plant, especially the berries, can cause gastrointestinal distress if ingested.
Pets: The berries may cause mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested by cats or dogs.
Children: The bright red berries are attractive to children and pose a significant ingestion risk.
Contact allergens: Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can trigger seasonal allergies in some people.
Edibility: The berries are mildly toxic to humans and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Opposite, simple, ovate leaves
Fragrant white to yellow flowers
Bright red paired berries
Hollow pith in older stems
Pubescent twigs and leaf veins

Height: 3 to 5m
Spread: 3 to 5m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, yellow, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: red, Late summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
CankerUncommon
Leaf SpotUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: It is fully hardy and requires no special protection during the winter months.
In containers: It is not recommended for containers due to its large size and invasive potential.

Seed

1. Collect ripe berries in autumn.
2. Clean the seeds from the pulp.
3. Sow seeds in a cold frame or outdoors in late autumn.

Because this plant is invasive, it is best to avoid planting it near any native ecosystems.

Similar species

Tartarian Honeysuckle · Another invasive shrub with similar growth habits and ecological impact.

Science

Family: Caprifoliaceae
Genus: Lonicera
Order: Dipsacales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Northeastern Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea.
Conservation: It is considered a severe invasive species in many regions and is often prohibited from sale or planting.

It thrives in disturbed areas and forest edges, where it forms dense thickets that shade out native understory plants.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, provides cover for birds
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Uses: ornamental shrub, wildlife habitat

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it safe to plant in my garden?: No, it is highly invasive and is discouraged or banned in many areas.
How do I get rid of it?: Small plants can be pulled by hand, while larger ones require cutting and herbicide treatment on the stumps.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors German botanist Adam Lonitzer, while the species name commemorates Russian naturalist Richard Maack.

Good to know

It was introduced to North America in the late 1800s as an ornamental.
The berries are spread widely by birds, which contributes to its invasive nature.
It leafs out earlier in the spring than most native shrubs, giving it a competitive advantage.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.